1969 Maserati Ghibli - The Resurection
Discussion
So, with the engine removed, machining done and the bottom end rebuilt (heads left off so I could check all was ok in storage) I turned my attention to the bodywork.
Initial inspection showed the wheel arches differed in shape and profile from one side to the other so the first step was to examine these areas more closely.
Using a twill wire brush in my trusty angle grinder I removed the paint from the off-side rear wheel arch lip through the primer to find a ¼” thick layer of body filler. Further exploratory grinding with the twill brush in a series of small patches revealed the whole area from the waistline down to the sills was covered in a similar layer of filler, and in places this was up to a ½” thick. Removing this quantity of filler is very time consuming; the only effective method I know of is grinding it away with the wire brush, which turns it into a fine powder. It became clear that part of the reason for the large quantity of filler was a previous attempt to repair rust between the inner/outer joint of the wheel arch. Unfortunately the method used was very crude, the rusty areas had been beaten back and rough patches brazed over the top. This had caused further and more extensive damage to the bodywork as the heat from the oxy/acetylene torch used in brazing had spread along the thin panels and causes them to wrinkle like a sweet wrapper.
Removing the paint from the other rear arch again revealed a large quantity of filler over rust but thankfully this time there was no trace of the brazed patches. Repeating this stripping method at various spots around the body convinced me that all the paint and filler had to be removed from the entire body.
This decision was not taken lightly as to do it properly required removing the entire interior, glass, lights and bright-work. Indeed I decided to remove everything: suspension, engine bay components and loom so that the car would eventually be taken right down to a bare shell.
Initial inspection showed the wheel arches differed in shape and profile from one side to the other so the first step was to examine these areas more closely.
Using a twill wire brush in my trusty angle grinder I removed the paint from the off-side rear wheel arch lip through the primer to find a ¼” thick layer of body filler. Further exploratory grinding with the twill brush in a series of small patches revealed the whole area from the waistline down to the sills was covered in a similar layer of filler, and in places this was up to a ½” thick. Removing this quantity of filler is very time consuming; the only effective method I know of is grinding it away with the wire brush, which turns it into a fine powder. It became clear that part of the reason for the large quantity of filler was a previous attempt to repair rust between the inner/outer joint of the wheel arch. Unfortunately the method used was very crude, the rusty areas had been beaten back and rough patches brazed over the top. This had caused further and more extensive damage to the bodywork as the heat from the oxy/acetylene torch used in brazing had spread along the thin panels and causes them to wrinkle like a sweet wrapper.
Removing the paint from the other rear arch again revealed a large quantity of filler over rust but thankfully this time there was no trace of the brazed patches. Repeating this stripping method at various spots around the body convinced me that all the paint and filler had to be removed from the entire body.
This decision was not taken lightly as to do it properly required removing the entire interior, glass, lights and bright-work. Indeed I decided to remove everything: suspension, engine bay components and loom so that the car would eventually be taken right down to a bare shell.
dinkel - 'IMO: only a Khamsin tops the Ghibli - of the 60/70s Maseratis that is. Although the various bodied 3500/5000GT models are unbeateable'
The Khamsin tops the Ghibli? Interesting one that and I guess it comes down to whether the work of Gandini or Giugiaro floats your boat, for me naturally its the Ghibli.
Or if we are dreaming its got to be an A6GCS by Pininfarina http://ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/1526-1.jpg
PS
Anyone think we need a separate Classic Maserati thread, seems to be quite a lot of interest in them?
The Khamsin tops the Ghibli? Interesting one that and I guess it comes down to whether the work of Gandini or Giugiaro floats your boat, for me naturally its the Ghibli.
Or if we are dreaming its got to be an A6GCS by Pininfarina http://ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/1526-1.jpg
PS
Anyone think we need a separate Classic Maserati thread, seems to be quite a lot of interest in them?
Huntsman said:
Chad speed said:
dinkel
Anyone think we need a separate Classic Maserati thread, seems to be quite a lot of interest in them?
Yes, defo.Anyone think we need a separate Classic Maserati thread, seems to be quite a lot of interest in them?
Khamsin: it certainly lacks the sheer beauty of the Ghibli. The hard edge Ghibli fits the 4-seater Espada in looks.
dinkel said:
Let's do it. I'll be happy to throw in quite a few Maseratis and discuss these.
Khamsin: it certainly lacks the sheer beauty of the Ghibli. The hard edge Ghibli fits the 4-seater Espada in looks.
Passed a metallic red Khamsin in Lytham st Annes last week looking very nice in the sunshine, beautiful though not quite as elegant as the Ghibli.Khamsin: it certainly lacks the sheer beauty of the Ghibli. The hard edge Ghibli fits the 4-seater Espada in looks.
With the object of stripping the car of its suspension I tackled the front hubs, now I had jacked the car up a number of times before using the front cross member or differential, but this time I used the front offside jacking point. I wasn’t paying too much attention as I did so and whilst the car remained static, each vertical movement of the jack produced a sickening crunch as it drove it’s way up through the rust infested sill, bear in mind as well the car was without the weight of the engine and gearbox! I was a full 3 strokes of the jack before I realised what was happening.
The outer sills on both sides were reasonably new but clearly made in a workshop with limited equipment as they were welded from two pieces. Removal of the offside one revealed several previous attempts to repair inner sill rust damage, patch on patch. The only way forward now was to strip the car of all paint, filler and under seal, and then cut out any metal that could not be returned to the correct shape or that had lost it’s structural integrity.
Now that won’t buff out!
The outer sills on both sides were reasonably new but clearly made in a workshop with limited equipment as they were welded from two pieces. Removal of the offside one revealed several previous attempts to repair inner sill rust damage, patch on patch. The only way forward now was to strip the car of all paint, filler and under seal, and then cut out any metal that could not be returned to the correct shape or that had lost it’s structural integrity.
Now that won’t buff out!
CY88 said:
What a Fantastic car!!!!!
Although if you want a metallic green one, don't do the Verdi Bosco!. Go for the stunning Verdi Gemma instead
+1. A family friend had a series of Indys and a couple of Boras, followed by a Khamsin in the 70's. I remember that green from, I think, his first Indy, and it is genuinely stunning. That was a colour Maserati used for its motor show displays in the late 60's early 70's, and for good reason. Although if you want a metallic green one, don't do the Verdi Bosco!. Go for the stunning Verdi Gemma instead
While reminiscing, I was in Lugano, I think in the summer of '74, with the heat bouncing off the streets, and I remember looking into the Maserati dealer on the front at Paradiso, he had a red Bora, and, unforgettably, a pale silver blue Ghibli SS5000 Spyder, LHD of course, beige leather interior. I remember thinking, that has to be the most beautiful car on earth.
That (silver blue) is a stunning colour, but the Verde Gemma looked fantastic at the time and would do now. Your call, obviously, but I think that a solid colour is not going to show the car off to advantage and will imho lack the charisma of quality the car would have had at day one. Maybe, with all respect to the owners of the lovely red and yellow ones, the colours just aren't special enough. Originality is great, but also imho the Verde Bosco looks more like a BL colour than a Maserati one.
Edited by cardigankid on Wednesday 30th May 15:11
What a car!, Good luck with the project!
Maserati Ghibli Advert 1967 by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr
Maserati Ghibli Advert 1967 by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr
dockertrigger said:
What a car!, Good luck with the project!
Maserati Ghibli Advert 1967 by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr
I have that very same advert on the wall in my garage, it covered a full page in a 1968 copy of Autocar and my car was actually supplied by that dealer as well.Maserati Ghibli Advert 1967 by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr
Notice the Ghibli shown is very much pre production though, no air intakes below the bumper, no door handles etc.
Re Ghibli Colours , I think it has to be back to the Original Green or the lighter shade of green. . An Original colour will always make top money . And I think it's a great Ghibli colour .
I rang the factory re my dads Gold one and they told me the name of the Gold, but I just can't remember it's name , any ideas ?
Personally , I think that the finest Ghibli colours are either the Gold or the Light Metalic Blue , check out the first ( And best Gone in 60 Seconds ) a Blue one is shown in a warehouse scene . It looks incredible.
Gene Barry drove a Mid Blue one in " The Adventurer" anyone remember it ?
I rang the factory re my dads Gold one and they told me the name of the Gold, but I just can't remember it's name , any ideas ?
Personally , I think that the finest Ghibli colours are either the Gold or the Light Metalic Blue , check out the first ( And best Gone in 60 Seconds ) a Blue one is shown in a warehouse scene . It looks incredible.
Gene Barry drove a Mid Blue one in " The Adventurer" anyone remember it ?
dockertrigger said:
What a car!, Good luck with the project!
Maserati Ghibli Advert 1967 by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr
Hmm, 174mph? Slight exaggeration there methinks. Simon Kidston writes in his Classic Cars column that the claimed 335bhp of the "as new" engine in his 1971 Ghibli Spyder actually dyno'd at 255bhp. He also discovered that Maserati's own internal documents quoted 233bhp!Maserati Ghibli Advert 1967 by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr
By contrast the Ferrari Daytona topped out at 174mph with a verified 352bhp.
According to Wikipedia, the Ghibli was good for 154mph, which is not a great deal more than an E-Type when you think about it.
The Ghibli is still one of the most beautiful cars ever made though and bystanders have been known to drop to their knees and beg for mercy when they mistake the sound of an enthusiastically driven Ghibli for the coming of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse!
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